Cypher

Guest

There seem to be tangibles and intangibles, extrinsic rewards and intrinsic ones as well, it all depends on who you are and what symbolic things mean to you, not to get to Zen or existential...

I seem to be a "joiner", I like to join worthy groups and help out, that is a reward I feel inside, the access you get to the "Legends of the Road" and their wealth of experience is also worthwhile. Formalizing your role in a group of like-minded gear-heads is just one way to take it to the next level... I take pictures and write articles, the ISSCA magazine is a great forum for that activity. I like the newsletter, learning what others are doing across the country.

The Internet and the Web have made it much easier for folks to reach out to others, so the local nature of car clubs remains but has changed, but now we see folks swap tech ideas on the F-body BBS and others... the drag race and Englishtown NJ included members of many clubs in the Northeast region, not all of which were ISSCA members, but that is OK.

I think ISSCA does a good job of catering to a wide variety of interest levels, you can pay your dues, sit back and read the newsletter, or you can attend events for the members (they have been doing a great job of making non-members feel included and welcome, strangers are just friends ya ain't met yet!)... if you are further motivated you can volunteer to help at an event, judge a car show, organize one yourself, etc... or aspire to a leadership role within the national or local clubs.

This national Impala group seems to be more open, inclusive and less judgemental than the old one (thank God!), so in my eyes, they are worthy of support merely because of what they are not.

Erik

Guest

You get to know more (in your case, even more) people who (i) share the same interest as you and (ii) can be a resource plus, if it's a local club, they're nearby, which is cool. With respect to ISSCA specifically, I like the idea of a national organization that will help represent my interests as a B-body owner and help keep manufacturers interested in producing parts. Plus, I dig the magazine.

Phillip&Dodie

Guest

Personally, I think receiving the Impala SScene magazine is HUGE reason to join. It's very well done. The articles are relevant. The ads are for stuff you'll want to buy for your B-body. The photos are awesome! ( to my buddy, Chino.) It's a glossy magazine - very professionally done. Not like a club newsletter.

ZimRandy

Guest

I think everyone has brought up some great points. I would like to add the SEMA membership and the fact that ISSCA is looking down the road for future aftermarket support. A larger ISSCA will be able to get discounts and also make national events go smoother, while maintaining a standard for the events.

Don't forget, United we stand, divided we fall. Wouldn't it be nice to have a large aftermarket, collector status for our cars, and huge national events in the next few years? Something else I have learned about "clubs", you get out what you put in.

BAD ROD

Guest

I would echo all that has been said regarding the benefits of joining ISSCA. Also, like any organization, the more you put in, the more you get out. ISSCA honestly solicits input and listens to it's membership and makes decisions with it's membership's best interests at heart. It is easy to be a member of ISSCA, if that makes since.

Founding fathers of ISSCA have done a wonderful job at initiating this dynamic national organization. It has a clear positive vision and has laid the foundation to become a great organization. I have seen a lot of "heavy lifting" done in developing the organization in the last year or more and look forward to the future. The best of ISSCA is yet to come. I want to be a part of it.

dano5511

Guest

i couldn't say it better than the previuos posts. the only neg reason i have to list is i spend so much time on this car (mostly because of this forum and our local club) that everything else, (chores, projects, work) can wait till later.

Whisperjet

Guest

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KriSS:What benefit is there to joining up with one of the car clubs?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Joining a car club puts you in the company of people who, right off the bat, have one thing in common - A love of a particular breed or brand of car. In our case it is the Impala SS with it's other B/D Body sibling vehicles.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>90% of the people I hang with are gearheads...and we'll wander to car shows together on occasion, etc.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is a big difference in 10 or 15 assorted vehicles attending a cruise-in or show together and the same number of like vehicles. You are treated much differently when you arrive as a group of same than if different. Heads turn to see what is going on and to admire the group as a whole.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I was just curious as to what the current members feel are the advantages to joining.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I purchased my Impala SS in late December of 1996 after the plant closed and wasn't able to attend an Impala SS show until the Impalapalooza on the Green in Bowling Green in 1997. At that show, I met so many wonderful people who would later have a profound effect on my life that I was just overwhelmed. I knew that this car and the people who love them were different in some special way. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this group and to help it succeed. Unfortunately the first National Club never did get it right and it was destined to failure as a club.

I tried to get some National Pride and Unity together as I hosted the Impalapalooza at the Gathering in Atlanta in 1998 and again at the Impalapalooza on the Green II in Bowling Green in 1999. These never did get the attention of the whole nation, but it did keep the spirit alive.

I figured that there just wasn't enough support for a National Club, but I was wrong. Everywhere I turned there was talk about the need for formation of a National Club and how great it could be for the members. As a Director of a local club, I was invited to attend an informal meeting at I2K and discuss at length what we as local club leaders could do to form a National Club. One that was for the members and run by the members. I was one of several volunteers who worked on the Impala Roundtable Development Team that helped to form ISSCA. Then I became one of the founding Directors. There is much to be said for what has been accomplished in just a few short years. The club is doing well, but it needs more support in order to see all of its goals fulfilled.

What do you get out of the club that you can't get locally? If you have to quantify in terms of tangible evidence, then the National Club is probably not for you, but the club will still look after your interests. A group of strong local clubs chartered by the National Club is taking hold. One by one, the local clubs are being drawn to the National Club because commitments are being met and promises are being kept. The ISSCA is a club for the members and by the members and hopefully next year you will see the fruits of all this labor in a truly National Show.

The benefits that I have received are many but are not tangible. I have a pride in accomplishment from doing what I could to help launch the National Club. I take pride in seeing other people take over where I left off and continue the movement. And I take pride in knowing that this will continue for some time to come.

DB in INDY

Guest

The IndipalaSS are growing and would love to have you as a member. We have 60+ members from Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and beyond. We are an ISSCA Chartered Club and we do fun stuff! We don't have a magazine but our bi-monthly newsletter is "OK." Hope to see you at one of the local events soon !

Here is what I put on FB: You asked for it, you got it. The artwork this year was a big hit and we sold out of posters. But based on requests, we are offering an additional run of them. Very high quality, high gloss, very thick paper, 24x36. Price is $29 shipped to the US and $21 for each...

Attn ISSCA Members: July 16 DEADLINE
Folks, it is time to order your competition numbers for the ISSCA Nationals. Please remember that your ISSCA number is your competition number for Nationals and should be displayed on your car during the events.
A standard set of 2 number sheets is $5 and...